Installing multi room sky

Z

zahir18

New Member
My Satellite Setup
sky hd
My Location
london
Hello everyone, I am newbie and complete novice in satellite. I am currently refurbishing my house and want to install sky HD for the future but at present will use them as free view in 5 rooms- outbuilding, kitchen, living room, loft and 1 bedroom. I would really appreciate your support.

My questions are-
which type of dish to buy and LNB.
Does sky HD box need to 2 cables each
Will I need multi switch and which one to buy

Many thanks and any advise is much appreciated if I missed anything
 
It depends whether you want the facility to watch one and record another channel (ir record two) in every room. If you do then you will need ten satellite feeds in total which would mean using a multiswitch (5 in 12 out giving two spare outputs plus allowing terrestrial "Freeview" signals to be passed down the same cables and separated out by a diplexing wallplate in each room), quattro lnb and a dish the next size up in size from the standard in your location - 60cm standard "round" dish (note they do not make quattro lnbs suitable for Sky dishes). If you can make do wothout watch one/record another in two or more rooms then a normal Sky dish (zone 1 - 43cm) with an octo lnb (8 outputs) would be suitable. To allow for a greater "rain fade" margin (losing signal in very bad weather) you could fit an 80cm round or zone 2 (60cm) Sky dish as appropriate. A Sky HD+ box will work on only one feed but it will be watch one or record one only. There is also a non recording HD box with only one input.
 
Last edited:
davemurgtroyd said:
It depends whether you want the facility to watch one and record another channel (ir record two) in every room. If you do then you will need ten satellite feeds in total which would mean using a multiswitch (5 in 12 out giving two spare outputs plus allowing terrestrial "Freeview" signals to be passed down the same cables and separated out by a diplexing wallplate in each room), quattro lnb and a dish the next size up in size from the standard in your location - 60cm standard "round" dish (note they do not make quattro lnbs suitable for Sky dishes). If you can make do wothout watch one/record another in two or more rooms then a normal Sky dish (zone 1 - 43cm) with an octo lnb (8 outputs) would be suitable. To allow for a greater "rain fade" margin (losing signal in very bad weather) you could fit an 80cm round or zone 2 (60cm) Sky dish as appropriate. A Sky HD+ box will work on only one feed but it will be watch one or record one only. There is also a non recording HD box with only one input.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks very much for the advise. I could 2 rooms without watch one/ record another.
just to get it right, all I need is an octo lnb and a dish, then feed single cable to 2 rooms and 2 cables to the other 3 rooms.
Will I still need a multi switch and also would I lose signal if I run the cables directly from the lnb to the rooms.
Would you recommend a good satellite dish and LNB to buy.

Many thanks
 
If you use an octo LNB then you do not need a multiswitch, the octo can be thought of as having a built-in multiswitch giving eight outputs.

You wouldn't lose signal running directly from the LNB to room. In fact this is good practice as the shortest single length of cable is what to aim for.

In London a Sky Zone 1 dish with matching Sky type octo LNB will be sufficient. If you wanted a little extra signal margin for bad weather you could fit a larger Zone 2 dish for not much more money.

Most of the site sponsors sell these kind of dishes so please take a look at their offerings. If you buy from them it helps to keep the site working.
 
If you are putting cables in walls while refurbishing you might want to put in the extra cables to all the rooms now as a spare even if some of the rooms won't have recording facilities in case you change your mind later and install a multiswitch or just want to rearrange your boxes.
 
PaulR said:
If you use an octo LNB then you do not need a multiswitch, the octo can be thought of as having a built-in multiswitch giving eight outputs.

You wouldn't lose signal running directly from the LNB to room. In fact this is good practice as the shortest single length of cable is what to aim for.

In London a Sky Zone 1 dish with matching Sky type octo LNB will be sufficient. If you wanted a little extra signal margin for bad weather you could fit a larger Zone 2 dish for not much more money.

Most of the site sponsors sell these kind of dishes so please take a look at their offerings. If you buy from them it helps to keep the site working.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you very much for the advise. I now know what i need to do and seems pretty straight forward.
One last question, when screwing the cables to the LNB , is there an order of srewing them?

Many Thanks
 
There shouldn't be any difference between any of the outputs. In practice there occasionally is but this isn't predictable.
 
If burying the cables in plaster please do so in conduit and with a "drawstring" to enable easy fitment of extra or reaplacement (for faulty) cables. Also use silicone grease on the lnb connections to prevent water ingress.
 
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